Cut-off table with sequentially actuable roll mounting means



3, 11,489 v IGUT-OFFTAQBLE WITH] SEQUE TiAjJLY' 'ACTUABLE ROLL MOUNTING MEANS meg DeQ s, 1967.

L E i s Sheets-$heet 1 FIG. 2

INVENTOR M ICHAEL F. FIELD Patent Agent M. FQFIELD 3,511,489 CUT-OFF TABLE WITH'SEQUEVNTIALLY ACTUABLE ROLL MOUNTING'MEKNS.

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INVENTOR. MICHAEL F. FIELD ma /v3 Patent Agent 1 M;i12, 1970' Flew 3511. 89

CUT- FFfTABLE WITH -SEQUENTIALLY AciuA LE ROLL MOUNTING ME-ANS Filed Dec. 9/1967 1 s sheets-sheet s VENT MICHA F. Fl

Y /Qflzm Patent Agent United States Patent US. Cl. 266-23 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A slab cut-ofl table having a traveling cut-off device for movement with the slab is provided with support rollers synchronized to retract in sequence away from the slab to avoid damage by the cutting means, while a protective screen covers the retracted roll during the passage of the cutting means therepast.

This invention is directed to an improved cut-off table and in particular to a slab cut-off table utilizing a gas cutting flame.

In metal forming processes such as that of continuous casting it is necessary to separate the slab or billet by cutting the solidified material into discrete lengths as the casting process proceeds. Owing to the thickness and transverse dimension of the slab involved it is usual to employ one or more gas cutting flames supported upon a traveling carriage and cutting downwardly through the slab. This results in damage to the slab support table, generally of the conveyor type having a plurality of transverse support bars that are vulnerable to damage from the cutting flame or flames.

The present invention provides a slab cut-off table having a plurality of transversely extending slab support rolls along the length of the table, means for mounting the cut-off device in traveling relation over the table, roll mounting means to provide displacement downwardly of the rolls, and means for selectively controlling sequential displacement of the rolls downwardly from a slab contacting position to a retracted position, followed by upward return movement in slab supporting relation. The invention further provides a protective shield associated with said rolls and moved into operative position on retraction of the rolls to prevent impingement upon the roll from the slab cutting process.

Certain embodiments of the'present invention are described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a general view showing a moving slab in relation to a traveling carriage and cutter arrangement;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a cut-off table in accordance with the present invention, showing a roll in the kneeling position relative to the slab cut;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a kneelingroll;

FIG. 4 is a section on the" line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of a roll kneeling sequence control, and appears with FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a slab having a traveling carriage 12 traveling in concert therewith, the carriage 12 supporting a pair of transversely feeding cutting flames 14.

Referring to FIG. 2 the cut-off table 20 on which the slab 10 is supported includes a plurality of kneeling roll assemblies 22 each comprising a roll mounting bracket 24 having the roll pivotally attached thereto, a toggle linkage having upper and lower link members 25, 27 respectively and a bell-crank 29 in controlling relation with the lower link 27, and a hydraulic double acting actuator 30 connected to the bell-crank 29.

3,511,489 Patented May 12, 1970 "ice Referring to FIG. 5 for further details of the actuator 30, and the actuator sequence control mechanism, the actuator comprises a piston 33 within a cylinder 35 connected by means of con rod 37 to the bell-crank 29. There is shown a stop member 32 which retains the toggle links 25, 27 in aligned relation when the roll 22 is in the uppermost or load bearing position. The hydraulic circuit for the actuator connects by way of pipe 40 to a hydraulic or pneumatic pressure supply, which is fed to a simple control valve 42. The control valve 42 is provided with outlet ports A and B connected respectively by lines 43 and 45 with the actuator inlets. A first valve control arm 47 and a second valve control arm 49 are contacted sequentially by a control arm 50 (shown in phantom) which is secured to the carriage 12.

In operation movement of the carriage 12 from left to right in concert with the slab 10 brings the control arm 50 into initial contact with the valve control arm 47. This in turn admits pressurized actuating fluid by way of the port B to the supply line 45, causing the roll assembly 22 to kneel. The clockwise movement of the valve control arm 47 produces counterclockwise movement of the adjacent control arm 49 to an upward position, by means of the connecting rod 52. The member 50 subsequently contacts the now upright valve control arm 49, returning it to the position illustrated, thus causing the kneeling roll assembly 22 to move upwardly into slab supporting relation. The spacing of the valve control arms 47, 49 is such as to permit the passage of the cutters 14 beyond the roll station before the roll rises upwardly in slab supporting relation. By providing the member 50 with a hinge mounting, reverse travel of the carriage 12 does not provide actuation of the kneeling rolls as the member 50 is either retracted or rides freely over the respective valve actuating members 47, 49.

While a simple two-way valve arrangement is shown for purposes of illustration, it will be understood that alternative valve control arrangements may be provided.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 each kneeling roll assembly 22 comprises a roller 70 rotatably supported in bearings 71 and 72. The roller 70 in the illustrated embodiment has a shaft mounted gear drive unit 73 carried on an extension of the roller 70, including an input shaft 74 connecting to a motor or other drive means (not shown).

A water-cooled flame shield is positioned by a series of articulated levers in pivoting relation with the roll 70 such that when the roll assembly 22 is moved by its toggle link 25, 27 to the kneeling position, the shield member 80 is relocated above the roll 70 interposed between the roll and the passing slab and flame cutters, as illustrated in FIG. 3 to shield the roll 70 from heat and swarf. The shield 80 includes a coolant supply 82 with an outlet spray 84 which normally showers the roll 70 when the roll is in the raised slab supporting position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a slab cut-off table having a plurality of rollers mounted in sequential kneeling arrangement relative to a traveling cutting carriage, in combination with a protective shield and showering arrangement to prevent damage to the rolls from slag and scale when in the kneeling position and providing roll cooling of the roll when the roll is in the slab supporting position.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A sla-b cut-off table including a plurality of transversely extending bar support rolls spaced along the length of the table in substantially fixed longitudinal relationship therewith, means for mounting a cut-off device in longitudinal travelling relation over the table, a plurality of independently actuable roll mounting means supports said rolls, means secured to each of said mounting means to provide individual downward displacement of each 3 said mounting means and the respective said rolls, actuating means for positioning said last named means, and means for controlling sequential displacement of the rolls downwardly from a slab contacting position to a retracted position, followed by upward return movement into slab supporting relation.

2. The table as claimed in claim 1 including a protective shield means associated with said rolls and moved into operative position on retraction of the rolls to prevent impingement upon the roll during slab cut-off.

3. The table as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said roll mounting means has a toggle linkage secured thereto said linkage being in an extended, substantially aligned thrust supporting position when the respective said roll is in said slab supporting relation.

4. The table as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means to provide displacement includes a piston and cylinder hydraulic actuator in positioning engagement with said toggle linkage.

5. The table as claimed in claim 2 wherein said protective shield means is movably mounted relative to said rolls for interposed movement between a said roll when in the retracted position and the undersurface of said slab.

6. The table as claimed in claim 5 wherein said shield is pivotally mounted beneath said rolls for upward pivotal movement relative to said roll, in covering relation therewith on downward retraction of the roll.

7. The table as claimed in claim 2 wherein said protective shield means is water cooled.

8. The table as claimed in claim 2 wherein said protective shield means includes water spray means arranged in spraying relation with said roll to cool the roll when the roll is positioned in slab supporting relation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ROBERT D. BALDWIN, Primary Examiner US. 01. X.R. 

